Family of Massachusetts teen John McCabe searches for justice in 1969 murder

This story fpreviously aired on Oct. 31, 2015. It was updated on June 22, 2024. Prosecutor: Good morning, Mr. McCabe ... do you remember September 27th 1969? Edward Alan Brown: They wanted me to go with them to help them. Edward Alan Brown: They said they wanted to go find this kid that had been... uh you know, messing around with Marla to teach him a lesson. Michael was facing back — at John, tryin' to — to smack him. And John had his arms up to try to — to stop him from doing that. ... We went under the Spaghettiville Bridge ... Edward Alan Brown: And we got him outside the car. Edward Alan Brown: Michael tied his ankles, then went around and tied his — wrists together. Then he took another piece of rope ...  around his ankles and attached it up to his neck. ...they had put tape on his mouth. John's — squirming, wiggling, trying to get out. ... He's lying on his belly ... uh, with his legs up in the air and his — his head turned sideways. Edward Alan Brown: Then — I told 'em we should go back and let him go... Edward Alan Brown: Michael and Walter got out of the car and went over to him. They were there for about 30, 45 seconds ... and they came quickly back to the car ... we started to drive off and one of 'em said that he wasn't breathing. Edward Alan Brown: Then they brought me home. Edward Alan Brown: Michael said, "If anybody talks to anybody about this, I'll kill him." Eric Wilson: You were fed information it was a dirt lot, right? Eric Wilson: Mr. Brown, you've lied under oath when you're scared, right? Tom O'Reilly: At any point did you feed him information as to the investigation? Eric Wilson: There were a number of investigative reports and material that you either overlooked or didn't even know about, true? Eric Wilson: He was labeled ... long before you were assigned this case, as a strong suspect, right? Eric Wilson: Did the brothers have any specific evidence that you're aware of? Eric Wilson: you learned of his death, suicide right? He jumped off a bridge, right? Defense: Did you ever go to a dance with John McCabe? Prosecutor: September 26th, 1969 were you dating Walter Shelley? Prosecutor: You didn't tell the police that you were dating Walter Shelley in 1969 when John McCabe was killed?

Produced by Judy Rybak and Peter Henderson Bill McCabe: Yes, sir.  Prosecutor: Help them do what? Prosecutor: And how did you know Marla Shiner? Prosecutor: Who pushed John out of the car? Then they said — that, "This — this'll teach you to — to mess with Marla anymore." And we got in the car and left. Prosecutor: What did you do? Edward Alan Brown: Yes. Edward Alan Brown: Yes. Det. Coughlin: Never. Det. Coughlin: I don't know what you're referring to. Det. Coughlin: There is a report that uses the word for him, "strong suspect". In the very same report, mentions Mr. Ferreira as a prime suspect. Det. Coughlin: They did not. Det. Coughlin: His brother says he fell off a bridge. Marla Shiner: Never. Marla Shiner: No ... I was not dating Walter - when John McCabe died. Marla Shiner: I — no — I don't believe I did tell them that.

It took almost every ounce of strength left in his 85-year-old body to get to the witness stand, but Bill McCabe waited 43 years for this day and the start of this trial in January 2013. Prosecutor: How old was John at that day? Edward Alan Brown: I didn't know at the time until I got in the car and we left. Edward Alan Brown: It was Walter's girlfriend. Edward Alan Brown: I did. ...I thought they were just gonna slap him around. Edward Alan Brown: I don't remember. I think I cried. Eric Wilson: You were fed information that it was near a railroad tower, right? Eric Wilson: You've lied under oath when you're nervous, right? Eric Wilson: How about Richard Santos? Defense: Was it ever conveyed to you that he had any type of romantic interest in you in August or September of 1969? Prosecutor: When did you start dating him then?